Falkenberg shrugged. "Doubtless we'll try. We can put detachments out in some of the critical areas. As you said, there's only so much 1000 men can do, even 1000 marines."
"And after you leave?" Irina asked. Her voice was bitter. "They are pulling out, aren't they? You've come to evacuate us."
"The Grand Senate doesn't generally discuss high policy with junior captains," Falkenberg said.
"No. I suppose not. But I do know you brought orders from the Colonial Office. Hugo took them into his office to read them-and he hasn't spoken to anyone since. All day he's been in there. It isn't hard to guess what they say." Irina sipped at the wine and stared moodily at the oak table. "Of course it's necessary to understand the big picture. What's one little planet with fewer than a million people? Arrarat is no threat to the peace, is it? But they are people, and they deserve something better than-sorry. I'm not always like this."
"We'll have to think of something to cheer you up," Deane interjected. "Tell me about the exciting social life of Arrarat."
She gave a half smile. "Wild. One continuous whirl of grand balls and lewd parties. Just what you'd expect on a church-settled planet."
"Dullsville," Deane sighed. "But now that we're here-"
"I expect we can manage something," Irina said. "I tend to be Dad's social secretary. John, isn't it customary to welcome new troops with a formal party? We'll have to have one in the governor's palace."
"It's customary," Falkenberg agreed. "But that's generally to welcome a regiment, not a random collection of replacements. On the other hand, since the replacements are the only military unit here-"
"Well, we do have our militia," Irina said.
"Sorry. I meant the only Line unit. I'm certain everyone would be pleased if you'd invite us to a formal ball. Can you arrange it for, say, five days from now?"
"Of course." She looked at him curiously. So did the rest of us. It hadn't occurred to me that Falkenberg would be interested in something like that. "I'll have to get started right away, though-"
"If that's cutting it too close," Falkenberg interrupted, "we-"
"No, that will be all right."
Falkenberg glanced at his watch, then drained his glass. "One more round, gentlemen, and I fear I have to take you away. Staff briefing. Irina, will you need an escort?"
"No, of course not."
We chatted a few minutes more; then Falkenberg stood. "Sorry to leave you alone, Irina, but we do have work to do."
"Yes. I quite understand."
"And I'd appreciate it if you can get that invitation made official as soon as possible," Falkenberg said. "Otherwise we're likely to have conflicting duties, but of course we could hardly refuse the governor's invitation."
"I'll get started right now."
"Good. Gentlemen? We've a bit of work. Administration of the new troops and such. Dull but necessary."
CHAPTER 4
The conference room had a long table large enough for a dozen officers, with chairs at the end for twice that many more. There were briefing screens on two walls. The others were panelled in some kind of rich wood native to Arrarat. There were scars on the paneling where pictures and banners had hung. Now the panels were bare, and the room looked empty and cold. The only decoration was the Co-Dominium flag: American eagle and Soviet hammer and sickle. It stood between an empty trophy case and a bare corner.
Louis Bonneyman was already there. He got up as we came in.
"There won't be many here," Falkenberg said. "You may as well take places near the head of the table."
"Will you be regimental adjutant or a battalion commander?" Deane asked me. He pointed to senior officers' places.
"Battalion commander by all means," I said. "Line over staff any day. Louis, you can be intelligence officer-"
"That may not seem quite so amusing in a few minutes," Falkenberg said. "Take your places, gentlemen." He punched a button on the table's console. "And give some thought to what you say-"
I wondered what the hell he meant by that. It hadn't escaped me that he'd known where to find us. Donnelley must have called him. The question was, why?
"Ten-hut!"
We got up as Colonel Harrington came in. Deane had told me Harrington was over 70, but I hadn't really believed it. There was no longer any doubt. Harrington was short and his face wore a pinched look. The little hair he had left was white.
Sergeant Major Ogilvie came in with him. He looked enormous when he stood next to the colonel. He was almost as tall as Falkenberg anyway, and a lot more massive. A big man to begin with, but standing next to Harrington he seemed a giant.
The third man was a major who couldn't have been much younger than the colonel.
"Be seated, gentlemen," Harrington said. "Welcome to Arrarat. I'm Harrington, of course. This is Major Lorca, my Chief of Staff. We already know who you are."
We muttered some kind of response while Harrington took his seat. He sat carefully, the way you might in high gravity, only of course Arrarat isn't a high-gravity planet. Old, I thought. Old and past retirement even with regeneration therapy and geriatric drugs.
"You're quite a problem for me," the colonel began. "We asked for a regiment of military police. Garrison marines. I didn't think we'd get a full regiment, but I certainly didn't ask for Line troops. Now what am I to do with you?"
Nobody said anything.
"I cannot integrate Line marines into the militia," the colonel added. "It would be a disaster for both units. I don't even want your troops in this city! That's all I need, to have Line troopers practicing system D in Harmony!"
Deane looked blankly at me, and I grinned. It was nice to know something he didn't. System D is a Line troop tradition. The men organize themselves into small units and go into a section of town, where they all drink until they can't hold any more. Then they tell the saloon owners they can't pay. If any of them cause trouble they wreck his place, with the others converging onto the troublesome bar while more units delay the guard.
"I'm sorry, but I want your Line troopers out of this city as soon as possible," Harrington said. "And I can't give you any officers. There's no way I can put marines under militia officers, and I can't spare any of the few Fleet people I have. That's a break for you gentlemen, because the four of you will be the only officers in the 501st Provisional Battalion. Captain Falkenberg will command, of course. Mr. Slater, as senior lieutenant you will be his second, and I expect you'll have to take a company as well. You others will also be company commanders. Major Lorca will be able to assist with logistics and maintenance services, but for the rest of it, you'll be on your own."
Harrington paused to let that sink in. Deane was grinning at me, and I answered it with one of my own. With any luck we'd do pretty well out of this miserable place. Experience as company commanders could cut years off our time as lieutenants.
"The next problem is, what the hell can I do with you after you're organized?" Harrington demanded. "Major Lorca, if you'll give them the background?"
Lorca got up and went to the briefing stand. He used the console to project a city map on the briefing screen. "As you can see, the city is strongly defended," he said. "We have no difficulty in holding it with our militia. However, it is the only part of Arrarat that we have ever been required to hold, and as a result there are a number of competing gangs operating pretty well as they please in the interior. Lately a group calling itself the River Pack has taken a long stretch along the river banks, and is levying such high passage fees that they have effectively cut the city off from supply. River traffic is the only feasible way to move agricultural goods from the farmlands to the city."